The eqMac alternative with everything included.
TuningMac is a system-wide equalizer for Mac that includes the features eqMac keeps behind Pro, like per-app volume, a parametric EQ and a live spectrum. It also plays to several outputs at once, ducks your music on calls and controls noise cancelling, for $5 once with no driver to install.
- One-time purchase
- No drivers
- macOS 14.2 Sonoma or later
TuningMac vs eqMac at a glance
| Feature | TuningMac | eqMac |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5 once, every future version included | Free basic EQ; Pro $3/mo, $30/yr or $40 lifetime |
| System-wide 10-band EQ | Included | Free |
| Parametric EQ | Up to 20 bands, included | Unlimited bands, Pro only |
| Import AutoEQ / Equalizer APO | Paste and apply in one click | Not listed |
| Ready-made headphone presets | AutoEQ corrections for popular models | 4,600+ headphones |
| Per-app volume | Included | Pro only (App Mixer) |
| Live spectrum analyzer | Included | Pro only |
| Play on several outputs at once | Included, with Auto Sync beta | Not listed |
| Music ducks during calls | Auto ducking | Not listed |
| AirPods, Sony & realme noise control | From the menu bar | Not listed |
| Spatial audio, Audio Unit hosting | No | Pro only |
| Audio driver | None, uses Apple's audio tap | Installs its own audio device |
| macOS support | macOS 14.2 Sonoma or later | macOS 10.13 or later |
eqMac details from eqmac.app and its GitHub repository, October 2026. "Not listed" means eqMac's site doesn't mention it.
Why people look for an eqMac alternative
- Per-app volume costs extra. eqMac's App Mixer is Pro only. In TuningMac it's part of the one price.
- A subscription for an equalizer. eqMac Pro is sold monthly or yearly, or as a lifetime license for the current Pro features. TuningMac is a single purchase that includes future versions.
- A driver in the audio path. eqMac sends your sound through its own audio device. TuningMac uses Apple's system audio tap, so your headphones and speakers stay selected as they are.
What TuningMac adds
- Multi-output: play to AirPods, speakers and your Mac at the same time, with an Auto Sync beta that lines up speakers.
- Auto ducking: your music gets quieter while you talk on Zoom, Meet, Teams or FaceTime, then comes back.
- Noise control: switch noise cancelling and transparency on AirPods, Sony and realme headphones from the menu bar.
- AutoEQ import: paste a measured correction curve and your headphones are tuned in one click.
- Per-device EQ: headphones and speakers each keep their own settings and switch automatically.
When eqMac is the better pick
eqMac is a capable app, and it's the right choice if you are on a Mac older than macOS 14.2, if you only need a free 10-band EQ, or if you want spatial audio, Audio Unit plugins or a parametric EQ with unlimited bands. Its library of presets for more than 4,600 headphones is also bigger than ours.
If what you want is a clean equalizer, per-app volume and better headphones in one menu bar app, without a subscription, try TuningMac free for 7 days.
Set it up in a minute
- 1
Quit eqMac
Quit it and set your Mac's output back to your headphones or speakers in Sound settings.
- 2
Download TuningMac
Get it from tuningmac.com and drag it to Applications. It runs on macOS 14.2 Sonoma or later.
- 3
Pick a preset
Allow audio access once, then choose a preset or paste your AutoEQ curve into Advanced EQ.
Questions
What is the best alternative to eqMac?+
For most people, TuningMac. It covers what eqMac users reach for most (a system-wide equalizer, a parametric EQ and per-app volume) and adds multi-output, auto ducking for calls and headphone noise controls, all for $5 once with no subscription. It needs macOS 14.2 Sonoma or later. SoundSource by Rogue Amoeba is another paid option with per-app EQ and Audio Unit plugins.
Is eqMac free?+
eqMac has a free tier with a basic and a 10-band equalizer, volume and balance. Per-app volume, the parametric Expert Equalizer, spatial audio and Audio Unit hosting need eqMac Pro, which is $3 a month, $30 a year or $40 for a lifetime license covering the current Pro features, according to eqmac.app.
Does eqMac install a driver?+
Yes. eqMac routes sound through its own audio device, described in its GitHub README as a system audio loopback driver. TuningMac installs no driver: it uses the system audio tap Apple added in macOS 14.2, and macOS asks once for System Audio Recording permission.
Is eqMac open source?+
Partly. The eqMac GitHub repository is Apache 2.0 licensed, but its README says the public code matches version 1.3.2 and newer releases are built from a private fork.
Can I use my headphone EQ from eqMac in TuningMac?+
TuningMac imports parametric EQ text in the AutoEQ and Equalizer APO format, which most headphone correction curves are published in. Paste it into Advanced EQ and it's applied in one click. You can also copy the measured settings for your model from the headphone EQ pages on tuningmac.com.
How do I switch from eqMac to TuningMac?+
Quit eqMac, then open Sound settings and make sure your output is your headphones or speakers rather than the eqMac device. Open TuningMac, allow audio access once, and pick a preset. Running two equalizers at the same time would apply both EQ curves on top of each other.
Everything TuningMac does
Multi-output, noise control, live spectrum and more, in one menu bar app.
See all features